Bulldogs push Long Beach State in five-set loss

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Fresno State overcame 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to force a decisive fifth set against Long Beach State but the home team prevailed, 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 25-13, 19-25, 15-12) to conclude play in the LBSU Mizuno Invitational on Saturday night in the Pyramid.

Fresno State (8-5) had been 4-0 this season in five-set matches before taking its first loss in five. Long Beach State (8-5), which took a set against No. 16 UCLA on Thursday night, improved to 4-1 at home this year in the venerable Walter Pyramid.

Taylor Slover had a match-high 20 kills while no other player on either team had more than 12 kills. She recorded her second 20+ kill match of the tournament while adding nine digs and two blocks. Kava Durr had nine kills and Jessica Gilbert had eight with five blocks while Madelyn Halteman recorded 44 assists and eight digs.

How it Happened
There were 15 ties and seven lead changes in a highly competitive opening set. Neither team led by more than two points until the Bulldogs scored three straight points to take a 19-16 lead. The 'Dogs had a 5.0-2.0 edge in blocks in the opening set and pulled ahead 21-17. The 49ers answered from there, scoring five straight points and ending the set on an 8-1 run to win it 25-22.

Long Beach State began the second set with three straight attack errors and the 'Dogs would lead wire-to-wire. Fresno State outhit the 49ers .273-.132 in the set as the 'Dogs turned a 6-5 lead into an 11-6 advantage early. Trailing 17-11, Long Beach State cut its deficit to 17-15 but could not get any closer. Leading 22-19, Fresno State ended the set with three straight points to even the match.

The 49ers responded in the third set, outhitting the 'Dogs .355-.000 with five blocks. Long Beach had only two attack errors in the set after eight in the second set. The set was tied at four before Long Beach had a 13-4 spurt to pull away 17-8 and eventually win the set 25-13.

Back on the home side of the floor for the fourth set, the 'Dogs again opened with a big lead and never trailed. Fresno State hit .379 with just three attack errors in the set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead. Fresno State was ahead by as many as six points early in the set but Long Beach battled back to pull even at 16-16. With the set still tied at 18, Fresno State would win in it with a 7-1 run, including three kills from Slover, to force the fifth.

The 49ers led the fifth set 6-3 before a 5-1 run from the Bulldogs put Fresno State ahead 8-7. The Beach responded with four straight points but the 'Dog would trail just 13-12. Long Beach State had 10 kills in the set while the Bulldogs had just five, as its 10^th kill gave the Beach match point and the home team won it on an ace from Gigi Alex.

Notes

Long Beach State had a 15.0-9.0 edge in blocks, tallying the most blocks by a Bulldog opponent this season. Fresno State had fewer blocks than its opponent for just the third time this season.
LBSU had a 7-4 advantage in aces as the Bulldogs have now trailed their opponent in service aces in all five of their losses this year. The 'Dogs are 6-0 when leading in aces but 2-5 when having fewer than the opposition.
Several former Long Beach State players were in attendance to celebrate their five national championships, including former United States Olympian Misty May.
The 'Dogs have played at least four sets in nine of their 13 matches this year.

What's Next
Fresno State opens Mountain West play with a single match next week, taking on San Diego State on Friday at 6 p.m.

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Bulldogs push Long Beach State in five-set loss

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Team Stats

Taylor Slover

Kava Durr

Jessica Gilbert

Haile Watson

Players Mentioned

Kava Durr

Jessica Gilbert

Madelyn Halteman

Taylor Slover

Players Mentioned

Kava Durr

Jessica Gilbert

Madelyn Halteman

Taylor Slover